Raisin sauce can be sweet or savory and is made from raisins, vinegar or lemon juice, and spices. It can be used as a complement to main courses or desserts, and the texture can be adjusted by soaking or reducing the raisins. Other ingredients like red wine, ginger, and butter can enhance the flavor.
A raisin dip can be a sweet and sour complement to a savory main course or dessert. The sauce is usually made from raisins, an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice, and spices that balance out the flavor of the raisins. Most sauces are cooked, either by reconstituting the dried raisins and making them tender and moist, or by breaking them down completely in the sauce. Some recipes call for a raisin sauce to accentuate the sweetness of the raisin, pairing it with other fruits or sugars. Many types of food, including meat dishes that include pork or chicken, can go well with this sauce.
One of the key elements in making a raisin sauce is developing the correct texture. There are dessert recipes that call for soaking the raisins ahead of time to soften them, while others reduce the raisins in a sugary sauce until they break down completely. Whole raisins are usually used in puddings or breads. Heavy or savory dishes sometimes use a raisin-based sauce that is smooth, achieving this texture by blending raisins into the sauce or boiling them with other ingredients and straining out the solids from the final reduction.
A simple raisin sauce that can be used for a dessert dish starts with raisins, water, and orange or lemon zest. These are placed in a pan and heated until the raisins have softened and begin to expand. Cinnamon and nutmeg are added in small amounts to provide a balance of flavors and an interesting undertone. The sauce is thickened with molasses or brown sugar and then reduced until smooth and thick, although parts of the raisins will still be visible. Other condiments, such as apple or orange juice, can be used in small amounts to increase the acidity.
Savory dishes such as ham or chicken go well with a raisin sauce. These sauces usually start with raisins that are cooked in vinegar and a little water to soften them. Brown sugar is added to balance the flavors and create a sweet and sour taste. Spices such as mustard powder, allspice, nutmeg or lemon juice are mixed with the sauce to complement the main dish. Finally, to thicken the sauce, cornstarch is added after it has been slurryed with hot water.
Other ingredients that can help the taste of a raisin sauce include red wine that is reduced with raisins, ginger and butter. Capers can help make a sauce that works well with fish. Rum or cranberries can add a complex flavor to a dessert sauce. Chicken dishes can be enriched with a sauce that includes finely diced tomatoes or pineapples.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
